Why do we Gather?

Hebrews 10:23–25 ESV

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

God desires for us to be a unified body working together

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

We are one body but cannot be considered the body of Christ unless the “many” come together as one. Paul is telling the Corinthian Church about how they have all been uniquely gifted on purpose to be brought together as a body to work toward the common goal of the great commission and allow the church to function. Yes we are the church not the building, but in order for us to function as the church we must meet as the “many”.

The Holy Spirit moves differently in a gathering

Acts 2:1–4 ESV

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

120 disciples gathered TOGETHER in ONE PLACE to seek the Lord and wait for his spirit to come upon them. The Holy Spirit moves differently among a group of believers than he does the individual believer. Yes they all did many wonderful works for the Lord, however, the way the Spirit moved on them, in them, and through them as individuals, was initiated and empowered by what happened when they gathered TOGETHER. Our gathering together empowers us by the Holy Spirit to live as individuals the rest of the week.

God blesses the unified gathering

Psalm 133 ESV

A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

It is God’s will for us to gather together. So much so that he COMMANDS a blessing. The blessing is for life forevermore! This means that the blessing of gathering together is that we receive life. I l believe that this speaks more to the quality of life and feeling alive because of the blessing that comes with gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is life giving to come together and worship, hear the word and serve.